Tohei Koichi Soushu

Tohei Shoushu was born in Shitaya ward of Tokyo in 1920. At three years of age he returned to his hometown in the Tochigi Prefecture. He is a graduate of Keio University. He has been studying Aikido since the age of 19, obtaining the highest rank of 10th Dan. Since 1953 he frequently travels to America and Europe in efforts to spread Aikido. After organizing the Ki Society International (Ki no Kenkyukai) in 1971 he has made a great effort to spread the principles of Ki-Aikido.

He has long been famous for teaching Ki to many well-known athletes including Sadaharu Oh and his one-legged batting stance, as well as taking care of Chiyonofuji's dislocated shoulder. Furthermore, Ki Society International is the only facility specializing in the study of Ki in Japan, having been approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1977. In order to spread Ki, he has recently opened the Ki Health Institute and created an "at-home" course in which students become Ki Health graduates in their own homes. His books include Ki no Iryoku ("Power of Ki"), Seiko no Hiketsu wa Ki ni ari ("The Key to Success is Ki") and countless others. His latest booke is Ki ni ga Suru no Michi ("The Way to Union with Ki"). An English translation is soon to be available.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

1920
Born on January 20 in Shitaya ward of Tokyo. At the time of his birth, his mother was suffering from a severe case of pneumonia. As a result, he is sickly throughout his childhood.

1937
At 16 years of age he enters the Keio Preparatory School. During Judo practice, he falls hard on his chest and develops pleurisy, causing a year's absence from college. From his return to his studies he feels keenly the weakness of his mind and as a result of this subjugation devotes himself to Zen Misogi training. He studies Zen and misogi at Daitokuji in Kyoto with temple head, Josei Ota Roshi, who was the top student of Yamaoka Tesshu Kyoshi. He also studies in depth with Tetsuju Ogura Sensei and his successor, Tesso Hino Sensei.

September 1942
His graduation from Keio University is advanced a half year at which time he enlists in the Utsunomiya Eastern Division. After that he enters the Toyohashi Officers Preparatory Academy. At the time of graduation he is awarded the commissioner training prize (Kyoiku Sokansho).

February 1944
At 23, he is dispatched to a platoon near the Central China front. Showered with bullets, he realizes through personal experience that true battle is very different from sports matches. A sports match should not be any different from life situation such as in a real battle where the instant you slacken your Ki could mean death. That is, you must master keeping one point.

August 1946
Demobilized from Central China, he once more studies misogi and aikido while at Gokokuji in Otowa, Tokyo. He also studies Tempudo with Tempu Nakamura Sensei.

February 1953
At 32 years of age, he begins to spread Ki Principles and aikido in Hawaii. Since that time, he has been spreading Ki Principles in America and Europe for 40 years.

September 1971
He establishes the Ki Society International in order to spread Ki Principles.

October 1977
Recognizing that Ki Principles contribute greatly to the promotion of national health, the "Ki no Kenkyukai" (Ki Society International) foundation is approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

April 1983
He establishes the Ki-Aikido Academy.

October 1990
The 20th anniversary commemorating the founding of Ki Society International is held at the newly constructed Ki Society Headquarters complex, Ki no Sato. The Tochigi site will be the world headquarters for the foundation.

April 1991
At the Tochigi world headquarters he establishes the Tochigi Ki Health Institute.